How can Speech-Language Pathology Help with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?
Research indicates that 80-100% of individuals with brain injury will have some form of communication disorder. Speech-language pathologists have a unique knowledge base of how cognition interacts with speech and language, and this knowledge is crucial in helping these clients effectively reconnect with their worlds. You may think of speech-language pathologists as simply teaching people how to enunciate. However, in reality, we spend most of our time teaching language and thinking – what we call cognitive-communication skills. Cognitive-communication disorders are difficulties in communicative competence (listening, speaking, reading, writing and social interaction) that result from underlying cognitive impairments (attention, memory, organization, information processing, problem solving, and executive functions) as well as linguistic or motor impairments. These disorders are distinct from other neurological communication disorders (e.g., aphasia, dysarthria) and require specific tech
